#rissy's asks

[rissynicole]

Do you write fluff sickfic for invader Zim? Reading about others being comforted when they’re sick fills the lack of attention I receive when I’m sick 🥲

I do, indeed! Whump/sickfics have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Characters that are normally really serious or withdrawn in canon are perfect for this type of story because it’s a great way to introduce themes of empathy and work towards a changing dynamic. Basically, if you want two enemy characters to be friends, make one have an accident, and watch as the other begrudgingly helps them. And that’s just one way this trope can go. I’ve always liked all the possibilities. 

Also, if i’m being honest, just the simple fluffiness of one character helping another with an injury/illness is like comfort food for the soul. Both as a writer and as a reader. 

I've written a few little one-shots that are only on Tumblr about a year back. Here are some links from those I was able to find:

Caretaker Ask Game (In which took writing requests based on a masterlist of "caretaker" story starter sentences)

Prompt Starter: “That can wait until you’re better.” (sick Zim, caretaker Dib)

Prompt Starter: “Why did you eat all that?” (sick Zim, caretaker Dib)

Prompt Starters: “Saying you’re ‘fine’ isn’t usually followed by vomiting” and “The internet says you should [insert here] and [insert here]. Think that’ll work?” (sick Zim, caretaker computer and GIR)

Prompt Starter: “Do you feel your fever going down?” (sick Zim, caretaker Dib) 

This next story was written for @sunnymelonpan as a thank you for adapting that last story into a comic. Dib caring for Zim while the two are in college. 

Which reminds me, you can check out Sunny’s 12-page sickfic comic here. 

And then, of course, I would be remiss to not mention A Parade of Indignities, which has plenty of fluffy (or somewhat fluffy) sickfic moments, too. The characters seem to have a knack for very begrudgingly caring for each others’ illnesses and injuries in that fic. 

Caution: Please do your due diligence and check the tags if you are easily distressed by content related to being sick (e.g., vomiting, fainting, etc.) These fics are all tagged appropriately depending on what is depicted in them. 

[rissynicole]

Ahhhh I finished parade like, a month ago and omgggg it was so good and I can't stop thinking about it. It's like, on my list of top five fanfics ever now.

Sorry if this comes off as weird I just wanted to let you know how much I loved it

Aww! No, you didn't come off as weird at all! This totally made my day! Thank you so much! I've been going through kind of a writing slump, so comments like yours really mean the world to me. I'm so happy you enjoyed Parade, and I hope you have a wonderful day 💛

[rissynicole]

For the fic troupes thing more IZ specific:

Irkens are cats.

one for me personally:

Everyone deserves an opportunity for forgiveness/change.

Irkens are cats

F: Hate it. Will immediately make me nope out of a fic.

Oh God, this is another hard one that will undoubtedly hurt some feelings. But I actually do hate this trope. I feel like Irkens have some cat-like tendencies. I think any characters who are standoffish by nature (or hiss in canon) can be described as "like a cat." But when it's brought up constantly with Irkens or translating over to physical features, I just emotionally nope out. There was some headcanon going around a while back that Irkens had "toe-beans", and I'm so sorry to anyone that enjoys that headcanon--you keep liking it! It's harmless and fun and you go for it! But dear lord, I just didn't vibe. At all. Same with Irkens purring. I know it's popular fanon and it's supposed to be cute, but every time I see it, I'm kind of put off. I can't really explain why, either.

I think the whole trope just kind of ignites that whole pet peeve feeling of "I don't know why I so passionately dislike this very harmless thing, but I just don't enjoy it at all."

Everyone deserves an opportunity for forgiveness/change

C: Neutral. A good author might be able to sell it, but a bad one will kill it deader than dead.

H'oh boy. Okay, this one is definitely more complicated than just "neutral." But I agree that it can either be done really well or really poorly, hence my rating.

I feel like a lot of flawed characters can change if they truly want to change (and the author drills that idea home). It doesn't erase their prior actions, nor does it mean everyone has to forgive them. I've always believed that if someone wants to change and is willing to put in the effort wholeheartedly, then those actions shouldn't be punished--they should be encouraged.

All in all, I feel like this trope can be done really tactfully and with a lot of heart. I also feel like cutting corners can just immediately kill it for me. It's a very delicate little thing.

[rissynicole]

zim for the character thing!

Ah, yes, my favorite character in the whole dang series. The man. The myth. The legend. I got a few of these for Zim, which is just fine with me. I’m always down to talk about him!

Favorite Thing About Them:

Despite being overzealous and outright pigheaded, I admire Zim’s attitude in the face of adversity. Now, I’ll admit, it’s both a blessing and a curse for him. I can go (and have gone) into long analyses of Zim’s many odd behaviors and why they can be self-destructive, but there is a silver lining to some of them. 

For the most part, negative criticism deflects right off him. Putting up blinders to the negativity surrounding himself is like second nature for Zim. As a result, he has canonically accomplished some pretty spectacular things simply by being stubborn, persistent, and by refusing to listen to those around him. 

In fact, Jhonen Vasquez is even quoted as saying this exact thing in a 2001 interview when asked about Zim’s character in relation to himself:

“I think that Zim is just the part of me that refuses to listen to anybody. It's the only reason I get anywhere!” (Goodman, 2001). 

Full interview. 

Least Favorite Thing About Them:

Zim’s aloofness gets to me sometimes. For the most part, he tried not to show a softer side to himself, though it does slip out occasionally. I think that’s why all the little GIR moments are so special to the fandom. Zim shows his softer side most when he’s around GIR, largely because GIR responds best to Zim when his master is patient with him. 

Now, the fandom has had a field day breaking down Zim’s internal barriers and giving content-consumers some good ole’ found-family fluff involving Zim as the central character. Because of this, it always gives me a bit of whiplash when I go back and watch the series and see just how stand-offish he actually is in canon. Of course, Zim is a product of his culture, and all Irkens are this way, so I suppose my beef is more with the Irken race rather than Zim as an individual. 

Favorite Line:

Employee: “Have a nice day.”

Zim pulls out a wad of cash.

Zim: “Shut your noise tube, taco human!”

He throws the cash in the employee's face, but the employee doesn't react at all.

This whole scene just gets me. Zim not being in disguise, the huge wad of cash he just throws at the Crazy Taco employee, the dead expression on said employee’s face... 

Random Headcanon:

Zim is a secret chocoholic. He loves the stuff, but he’ll never admit to a single soul that he actually enjoys something from Earth. 

Unpopular Opinion:

I’m not into fandom depictions of Zim being tall or getting taller in the future. I mean, don’t get me wrong; as a whole, I don’t really care. You do you. If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters. Just ignore me and my personal preferences for fan content.

I do have a reason for not liking this fandom trend, though. Personally, I feel like making Zim tall is kind of missing point of his character. He’s short for a reason, and seeing as height is deeply ingrained within his culture, it seems like a counterintuitive thing to change about him. Almost every facet of his personality can be tied back to the fact that he’s short--the Irken equivalent of being a lower-caste citizen--and he’s trying to cope with that hand he’s been dealt. It explains why he’s so obnoxious, so persistent, and so in-your-face. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. 

But that’s just me... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Songs I Associate With Them:

Fear of Failure by Brick + Mortar

Sorry by Nothing But Thieves

Favorite Picture Of Them:

(More like a compilation of my favorite pictures)

[rissynicole]

I hope you don't mind double dipping but I thought of another one that I'm interested in hearing about ^^; Fics where the Tallest call Zim and tell him his mission is fake?

I don't mind at all! I love answering these! Although I'm beginning to realize just how picky I am lol.

Fics where the Tallest call Zim and tell him his mission is fake

C: Neutral. A good author might be able to sell it, but a bad one will kill it deader than dead.

This is like, THE trope. The most popular trope in the fandom, and it has stood the test of time and has been done in a million slightly different ways. To be completely honest, for the first time, the "C" rating got it correct. I'm kind of neutral on it.

The way I interpret this trope is exactly as it sounds: the Tallest call Zim up at his base and say "your mission is fake lol. Leave us alone" and then hang up on him. I'm not really taking into account fics where Zim learns on his own or through some different means.

I feel like in the vast majority of fics like this I’ve read, the whole thing is super rushed. It feels like shortcut to get Zim to be emotional in hurt/comfort fics.

The pacing isn’t even my biggest issue, though. My biggest issue is this: I don't think Zim would even believe the Tallest or take what they're saying seriously. He would totally try to spin it into an elaborate joke, ignore what they're saying, etc., etc.

In order to get Zim to actually accept that his mission is fake, I feel like authors have to back Zim into a corner so hard, he has no choice. There needs to be a variety of factors that get him to actually break down and acknowledge it.

That said, I have seen a select few authors that I feel actually pull it off. It's not easy to do, but I've seen some convincing ones. I don't dislike the trope; I just need it to be written in a well-paced, believable way.

[rissynicole]

Oh! Another troupe I forgot about: Self Sacrifice.

Self Sacrifice

C: Neutral. A good author might be able to sell it, but a bad one will kill it deader than dead.

Okay, this is another one that I'm not necessarily "neutral" on, but it really, really depends on how it is done.

If it's written well, it will stay with me forever.

If it is written poorly or for shock value, I will throw my phone across the room and rage.

[rissynicole]

do you make playlists for when you write? if so, share!

Oops! I can't believe I didn't see this in my ask box? I'm sorry, Audrey!

If I recall correctly, this was for a fanfic writer ask game, and I absolutely love this question. I do, indeed, have playlists for when I write! I have playlists for individual fics, which I have made myself, and I have saved playlists more streamlined towards focusing and relaxing.

A Parade of Indignities Playlist:

I made one for my other fic, inALIENable, too, but I think I'm going to go through and revamp it at some point. I made it, like, three years ago and both the fic and my music taste has evolved since then.

As for music I enjoy listening to when I write, I love LoFi, instrumental jazz, and lately, Studio Ghibli soundtracks (I did not make any of these lol. Just thought I'd share them since I listen to them so often.)

[rissynicole]

i didn't have an opinion about you at first. like i knew *of* you for a long time, but all i knew about was "person that apparently writes really well." i'd see people mentioning you in their art, so i'd think "oh i'd like to read that sometime." then one day you randomly started following me & i freaked out like "how did she find me, what is happening rn, lady who paid you." fghjgf i didn't know how genuinely kind & hilarious you were until after i started talking to you, but i'm glad i did.

Y’know, that’s pretty much how my first impression of you was, too. I didn’t know you, but I knew of you. I saw your name around, and I knew you made some killer AMVs. I think it was actually @dana-chan-the-control-brain who prompted me to look up your blog and follow you. She always raved about your AMVs and really talked you up as a person. I had no idea you were such a sweetheart until we started talking and I got to know you a bit better! I’m so glad we started interacting, because you’re seriously one of the sweetest people in this entire fandom and an amazing friend <3